by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many RIC first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at RIC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 73% students making it past their freshmen year, RIC has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Rhode Island, the average is 78.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RIC | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Rhode Island | 78.84% |
How many of the estimated 1060 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 33% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 54% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical RIC graduation rate 51%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 692 | 33% |
| Six Years | 1060 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 60 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 956 | 46% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 956 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 956 students who did not complete their degree?
16 are still enrolled.
516 transferred to another institution.
RIC lost contact with the remaining 421 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 516 | 54.0% |
| Dropped Out | 421 | 44.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 11% |
| Asian | 30% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 41% |
| International | 75% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 26% |
| Unknown | 41% |
| White | 56% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at RIC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Rhode Island College represent 56.96% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RIC graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 47% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | RIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 44% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 47.82% |
622 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
334 transferred to another institution.
RIC lost contact with the remaining 271 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 2.73% |
| Transferred | 334 | 53.70% |
| Dropped Out | 271 | 43.57% |
First-time / part-time students at Rhode Island College represent 1.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RIC graduation rate was 12%, and by the eight year mark, 12% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | RIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 23.72% |
22 first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
RIC lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 11 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Rhode Island College represent 30.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RIC graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 69% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | RIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
194 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
110 transferred to another institution.
RIC lost contact with the remaining 83 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.52% |
| Transferred | 110 | 56.70% |
| Dropped Out | 83 | 42.78% |
Returning / part-time students at Rhode Island College represent 11.80% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RIC graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 52% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | RIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 37.80% |
118 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
RIC lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.85% |
| Transferred | 61 | 51.69% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 47.46% |
